The Safe Place (Bridge To Terabithia) || ✓

Ch. 16 - Denseness of Jess Aarons

     "Jess! Jess! You're in the newspapers!" May Belle squealed excitedly, running to her older brother as Jess descended down the stairs. "Look!"

The young brunette read the article aloud and mispronounced quite a few words, taking some time to read some other words that she'd found difficult which was an entertaining sight for Jess and his sisters to watch as he gobbled up his pancakes. After she was done, Jess chuckled.

"What did you get for English?" Brenda asked slowly as if she was talking to an illiterate person.

Missing Brenda's mocking tone, May Belle replied proudly, "a D!"

"Maybe I should tutor you next, May," a voice suggested, followed with a laugh. Leslie appeared at the door and greeted Jess's Mom. "G'morning ma'am."

Mary smiled fondly at her and wiped her hands clean. "Good morning, Leslie."

Leslie smiled sheepishly and made her way over to Jess and noticed the newspaper that May Belle was holding. "That's you!"

"And you," Jess added after he finished drinking. "What's up?"

"Dad offered to ride us to school since it's on his way to the office."

"Say Leslie," Ellie started in a strangely almost sickening sweet voice. "Mind telling us how it was while filming for the movie?"

"Did you like order around people?"

"Did you get any free stuff?"

"Is it true that Jesse McCarthy's in it?"

Leslie showed an amused face and looked at Jess. "Didn't Jess tell you guys about it?"

Jess opened his mouth. "Well I—"

"He was boring to talk to. We figured you'd have more exciting things to tell." Brenda quickly said with a scoff, interrupting her little brother.

Leslie nodded her head as if she understood how they felt. "Well, it was really great. We got to act with lots of amazing actors. We got gum on set a lot of times and autographs from the crew. And yeah, Jesse was there too."

The only thing that the sisters actually cared about was Jesse McCarthy so when Leslie mentioned him they went nuts and began rambling questions about the famous presumably romantic blonde.

"Oh my god!!" They shrilled like pigs.

"Did you meet him?!"

"Is he as hot in person as he is on TV?!"

"Did you talk to him?!"

Heavy footsteps came down the stairs. "What is all that yapping about?" Jack asked sternly and both the girls surprisingly shut their mouths. "And why aren't you helping your mother wash the dishes?"

Brenda and Ellie sauntered over to their mother's side and started washing the dirty plates with disgusted looks. Ever since their brother left for New York their father had given them more chores to do, much to their disappointment.